This is a cycle that repeats itself every year. In the beta the game plays amazing, we're all encouraged - we can cycle the puck and set up plays, and we buy the game for another year. Then, within a month or so there are a handful of patches released, and we're back to having an arcade hockey game.

Is it really so difficult to offer two online gameplay settings: Arcade and Sim? It can't be that fucking hard can it?

As a full time defenseman, I've taken an incredible amount of pride in not taking any penalties. Yes, there was a learning curve, and yes you have to think about position and timing when you poke check. That's realistic!

I took my second minor penalty in the late league game last night, and I was mad at myself because it was a stupid boarding penalty. Lack of discipline.